This is the land of the big sky, where a mountain may rise out of a sandy plain and where the elements are strong and pronounced.

The plants, as dramatic as their natural surroundings, include the giant saguaro, the mystical Joshua tree and the beautiful agaves and chollas. All these plants, common in Southwest gardens, are quite sculptural.

Using these artful succulents in the manipulated landscape is challenging, however, because they are going to be your focal points, and you have to consider how many focal points your garden can handle.

Many times, people look at succulents only as a collection of plants, and there is little regard for the effective combination of these plants. The greatest challenge in working with these and other sculptural plants is how to use them to create gardens that are restful to the eye and soul.

If you have a natural setting, you must also consider how much of the natural look works. For example, if your yard is covered in native creosote and you want to make it more diverse and interesting, you will need to edit out a little nature to bring in other plants to enhance the setting.

As a landscape designer, I look to nature for inspiration to create gardens. I look at the strong elements that make nature so special.

Trees that give a natural protection from the extremes are one main element. Trees also create places where understory plants can thrive.

Usually within an understory, you may have midrange shrubs that create a transition from the tree canopy. A few midrange desert shrubs I prefer are Encelia farinosa (brittlebush), Buddleia marrubifolia (wooly butterfly bush), Dodonaea viscosa (hopbush), Hyptis emoryi (desert lavender) and Ambrosia deltoidia (bursage).

Stepping down from the midrange shrubs, I like to plant a complementary layer of accents such as agaves, aloes and low-clumping cactuses, which look great in groups near a boulder.

Again, look to nature for clues as to how plants nestle up to boulders and one another. At ground level, you want to have things that tie the whole composition together. A low swath of groundcover such as Dalea greggii, Chrysactinia Mexicana or Ericameria laricifolia brings the look together.

This whole concept of re-creating a natural look would most likely reflect the open savannahs we see all over the American West. Look to nature to inspire and start creating.

Included here is a photo of a section of the new Archer House at the Desert Botanical Garden’s Center for Desert Living. This is a simple case study showing layers in the manipulated landscape that work.

Note the canopy tree, an “AZT” hybrid paloverde. In the background, the midrange succulents are medicinal aloes or Aloe vera. The swath of chartreuse green that works as a connective plant en masse is the elephant’s food, or Portulacaria afra. Set near the boulder on the mound are whale’s tongue agaves, or Agave ovatifolia.

These foreground accents add a contrast with their distinctive powder-blue coloring and form to this corner planting.

If you want to create a similar look in your own garden, the Desert Botanical Garden is offering all these plants and more at our fall plant sale festival from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21.

Come support the garden and get inspiration for your own creation. Also, get free gardening advice from our many plant experts and horticulturists.

Kissinger is director of horticulture at the Desert Botanical Garden. E-mail your garden questions to bkissinger@dbg.org.

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